With the announcement by the Australian National Audit Office of their intention to audit WestConnex,  NSW Greens WestConnex Spokesperson Jenny Leong MP has called for an immediate halt to all work and funding of this controversial project.

More than one hundred Sydneysiders joined the Member for Newtown and NSW Greens acting spokesperson on Liquor Laws Jenny Leong MP in the NSW Parliament yesterday for the debate on the petition to keep Sydney safe and open.

The petition was signed by nearly 12,000 NSW residents who agree that our streets should be safer, but don’t agree that the way to do this is to lock people out and shut down our nightlife.

Greens MPs and local inner west councilors condemn Premier Baird’s forced amalgamation of Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield councils stating that this action reaffirms this government’s absolute disregard for community concerns and its ruthless program of reducing services to NSW residents. 

Jenny Leong MP Member for Newtown

“This is the Liberal agenda - a vision for government tailored to developers and large private interests, at the expense of community voices and services that support the most vulnerable. The sacking of local councilors and the imposition of administrators until September next year will mean our community who are facing massive threats from WestConnex and Urban Growth will be without local representation at this crucial time.

Jamie Parker MP, Member for Balmain

“Make no mistake - the sacking of Councils is about cutting jobs and services. It is about removing what limited voice remains for communities to stand up to over development and to projects like WestConnex which will decimate our communities.

Almost 12,000 people have signed a petition calling on the NSW Government to recognise that the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross lockouts are having a damaging reputation on culture, personal freedom, business and Sydney's global reputation.

The people who have signed the petition agree that our streets should be safer, but don’t agree that the way to do this is to lock people out and shut down our nightlife.

NSW Greens acting spokesperson on Liquor Laws and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has tabled the petition in Parliament. The debate is schedule for Thursday afternoon.

NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP, will chair the Peoples WestConnex Inquiry in the NSW Parliament tomorrow.

What:  Peoples WestConnex Inquiry
Where:  NSW Parliament, Jubilee Room
When:  Friday 6 May 10 – 2 pm

The purpose of the Peoples Inquiry is to highlight the lack of transparency, good governance and community consultation surrounding the $16.8 billion WestConnex tollroad.

A number of expert speakers, community representatives and members of parliament will make presentations to the Inquiry including:

• Ms. Jude Page, NSW Public Health Association
• Mr. Mark Ely, Newtown Business Precinct Association
• Ms. Daisy Barham, Nature Conservation Council
• Members of NSW Parliament: Dr Mehreen Faruqi MP, Jamie Parker MP and Jo Haylen MP
• Representatives from local councils and residents’ groups

Members of the public will also be provided with an opportunity to put their views on the record.

A full schedule, including all speakers, is available here.

NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant has quietly suspended plans to charge additional licensing fees for venues that have a poor compliance rate with the states liquor laws, with big Sydney venues including The Ivy, Home Nightclub Tunnel nightclub and World Bar all set to benefit.

The fees, which were part of the package of reforms included 1:30am lockouts and last drinks, were due to be implemented in March 2016. This is despite being announced in January 2014, and promised to be implemented in the first part of that year.

NSW Greens spokesperson for WestConnex Jenny Leong MP has condemned the approval of the New M5 Stage 2 plans for WestConnex.  Labeling the process a sham, she will be conducting an urgent People’s WestConnex Inquiry and is encouraging the community to engage in civil disobedience to stop this private tollway disaster.

“The Baird government’s approval of this next stage of WestConnex is a slap in the face for the community who have tried to engage in good faith with the planning process but have been ignored at every turn,” she said.

MEDIA RELEASE - April 14, 2016

The Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has welcomed today’s statement from the Police Integrity Commission announcing Operation Colchester, which will investigate the matters referred to them in relation to reports that serving members of the NSW Police Force engaged in online racist and sexist harassment of Ms Leong as a Member of Parliament.

“After being presented with evidence that suggested that several employees of the NSW Police Force had posted offensive racist and sexist comments about me on facebook, we referred the matter to the Police Integrity Commission.

“We welcome the commitment from the Police Integrity Commission to investigate whether there has been any police misconduct. This is a very serious matter and we are pleased to see it is being responded to accordingly.

“Our office will work with the Police Integrity Commission and assist with its investigations as required.

“While the investigation is being undertaken, we will not be commenting further on this matter specifically. However, we will continue our work representing the people of the electorate of Newtown and advancing the Greens’ vision for a more just, more sustainable and more equitable society. That includes our ongoing work to see a repeal of the ineffective NSW drug dog detection program in NSW.

“I would like to thank the many members of the community who have expressed their personal support to us since these issues have been exposed. The outpouring of concern, care and commitment to seeing an end to racism and sexism in our community has been truly heartening in the face of such vile online abuse.”

Following a motion moved by Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore, Marrickville Council last night refused a request by WestConnex
sub-contractors to access local roads to install underground electricity mains for the proposed St Peters Interchange.

Greens NSW WestConnex spokesperson and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong said:

“Clr Ellsmore and Marrickville Council last night showed strong solidarity with all the members of the community opposing the WestConnex tollroad project.

“Residents and community groups made over 12,000 submissions concerning the New M5 Stage 2 WestConnex plans and most universally condemn this project. Many call for the St Peters component of the works to be completely reshaped.

“The only reason contractors would be applying to dig up streets and lay cables before any formal planning approval has been granted is if the Baird Liberal Government has no intention of genuinely considering the submissions from the community about this stage of the project,” she said. 

The Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has expressed serious concern that the 12,866 submissions against the WestConnex New M5 EIS have effectively been hidden on the Department of Planning’s website.

“This is just the latest example of the NSW government just going through the motions when it comes to WestConnex oversight and planning. Pretending there is a real consultation and genuine dialogue and engagement with the community and civil society on this $16.8 billion polluting private tollroad is unacceptable.

 “The planning assessment process has been farcical – and raises serious concerns about the pressure being put on the Department of Planning to fulfill the Roads Minister’s arrogant and misguided road agenda.